Method for attaching wirebound box parts



March 20, 1962 D. G. KINGSLEY METHOD FOR ATTACHING WIREBOUND BOX PARTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 22, 1954 INVENTQR .Kvn sle 3 .Dav id M Mallch 1962 D. G. KINGSLEY 3,025,892

METHOD FOR ATTACHING WIREBOUND BOX PARTS Original Filed Oct. 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 60b 60a. W

INVENTOR David .Kin sle Mam}! 1962 D. G. KINGSLEY 3,025,892

METHOD FOR ATTACHING WIREBOUND BOX PARTS Original Filed Oct. 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Dcwzld Kin sZe BY M WMMA fj ATTORN "United rates This invention relates to methods for attaching wire reinforced box parts, such as ends and tops, to wirebound boxes.

This application is a division of my copending application, now U.S. Patent No. 2,832,377 issued April 29, 1958.

US. Patent No. 2,281,908 issued May 5, 1942 discloses a wirebound box or crate of the general type known in the trade as an All Bound box. Such boxes are formed from box blank-s having a plurality, usually four, box sections or sides, each fabricated of side material or slats with reinforcing cleats stapled to the underside thereof along the outside edges of the box blank, and with the several box sections foldably secured together by longitudinally extending binding wires which are secured thereto by staples driven astride the binding wires, through the side material or slats and into the cleats. Such box blanks are customarily made in stapling machines of the general type disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,304,510, issued December 8, 1942, and the box blanks issue from such stapling machines in a continuous succession joined together by the binding wires. This continuous succession of box blanks is then fed through a loop fastener machine of the general type disclosed in US. Patent No. 1,933,031 issued October 31, 1933, in which the binding wires are severed in the interval between adjacent box blanks, the resulting wire ends are bent to form prongs therein, the binding wires are bent again to form loops therein and to place the prongs over the edges of the side material or slats, and the prongs are driven through the side material or slats and clinched over against the undersurface thereof to secure the prongs. When the box blank is folded around to set up the box, these loops come into opposition with each other and are interengaged to maintain the box closed.

The box ends are usually made of a relatively thin veneer with reinforcing binding wires stapled thereto. These box ends, like the box blanks, are made in machines of the general type disclosed in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,304,510, the box ends being formed in a continuous succession joined together by the binding wires. Heretofore, it has been customary to pass this continuous succession of wire connected box ends through a loop fastener machine of the general type disclosed in the aforementioned Patent No. 1,933,031 for the formation of loops on the binding wires, in the manner described above.

Such box ends have heretofore been secured to a box blank by extending the loops through notches in the outside cleats of the box blank and bending the loops around the outside binding wires of the box blank, as disclosed in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,281,908. However, this method of attaching the box ends by means of loop fasteners necessitates the use of a loop fastener machine in making the box ends.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved method for attaching box parts such as ends and tops to wirebound boxes and crates which does not depend upon the use of loops and thereby dispenses with the necessity of employing loop fastener machines in making such box parts. Another object of the invention is to provide such a method which is simple I 3,025,892 Patented Mar. 20, 1962 and inexpensive and which is capable of producing commercially satisfactory wirebound boxes and crates.

Generally speaking, the present invention accomplishes these objects by providing a method for attaching wirereinforced parts to wirebound boxes which involves forming a prong at the end of the reinforcing wire on the box part and driving this prong into one of the outside cleats of the box blank.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a hand-tool for forming and driving prongs in accordance with the method of the present invention, with the positions of certain internal parts being shown in broken lines.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the tool taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

[FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the tool, taken generally along the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of the tool taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the tool in successive stages of its operation of forming and driving a prong.

As may be seen in FIGURE 1, the hand-tool generally comprises a main frame a prong forming assembly 12 which is movably mounted on the main frame, and a pneumatic cylinder 14 which is mounted on the upper rear portion of the main frame and extends rearwardly therefrom in position to form a convenient handle by which the tool may be grasped. As may be seen in FIG- URE 2, the frame 10 is formed of a pair of similar, laterally spaced, parallel side plates 16 which are provided at their forward ends (their right-hand ends as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2) with hook portions 16a which, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, are adapted to be engaged behind one of the outside cleats C of the box blank and support the tool and box blank against relative movement during a prong forming and driving operation. The forward ends of the two side plates '16 are braced and maintained in properly spaced relation by a backing plate 18 which is removably secured to the inner edges of the hook portions 16a by screws 20 (FIGURE 2). This backing plate 18 is arnanged to abut the inner face of the cleat C when the tool is in proper position relative to the box blank, and is readily removable so that plates of different thickness may be substituted to accommodate different sizes of cleats.

As may be seen in FIGURE 2, the prong forming assembly 12 comprises a pair of laterally spaced, parallel side plates 22 and 23. The rear end of the prong forming assembly 12 is pivotally supported on a wrist pin 24 (FIGURE 2) which extends between the side plates 22 and through the forward end of a slide 26 which is received between them. The slide 26 is reciprocably supported at its lateral faces between guide plates 28 (FIGURE 2) secured to the inner faces of the side plates 16 and at its bottom and top edges by spacer blocks 30 and 32 respectively (FIGURE 4), which extend between the side plates 16 and brace them in properly spaced relation. This mounting arrangement of the prong forming assembly 12 permits it to move both longitudinally by reciprocation of the slide 26 and pivotally about the pin 24.

The slide 26 is normally urged toward its rearward position in which it is shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4 by means of a coil spring 34 (FIGURE 2) the forward end of which is hooked through an opening 26a at the rear end of the slide and the rearward end of which is hooked through an opening in the inner end of a screw 36 which is threaded through an end plate 38 at the rear end of the main frame 10 and through a lock nut 40 at the outer face of the end plate 38. The screw 36 is adjustable longitudinally to vary the degree of tension on the spring 34, with the lock nut 40 maintaining it in the adjusted position. Rearward movement of the slide 26 under the urging of the spring 34 is limited by means of a stop block 42 (FIGURE 4) which is screwed to the upper spacer block 30 in position to engage a shoulder 26b at the rearward end of the slide 26.

The side plates 22 of the prong forming assembly 12 are provided with paired upstanding arms 44 (FIGURE 1) between the upper ends of which is received the forward end of a piston rod 46 which, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1, is attached at its rearward end to the piston 48 of the pneumatic cylinder 14. The piston rod 46 is pivotally attached to the arms 44 by means of a pin 50 which is fixed at the forward end of the piston rod 46 and extends through vertical slots 44a in the upper ends of the arms 44.

The rearward end of the pneumatic cylinder 14 is connected through a pressure line 52 with an air compresser through a valve which is actuated by means of a push button 54 located on top of the cylinder 14 in position for convenient actuation by the thumb of the operator. The forward end of the cylinder 14 ahead of the piston 48 is vented to atmosphere, and a coil spring 55 encircling the piston rod 46 and compressed between the piston 48 and the forward end Wall of the cylinder urges the piston rearwardly in the cylinder. Depression of the button 54 causes compressed air to enter the rearward end of the cylinder 14 and force the piston 48 forwardly against the resistance of the spring 55, driving the upper ends of the arms 44 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1. This tends to cause the prong forming assembly 12 to move both translationally forward and to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1 about the pin 24 (FIGURE 2). However, since the forward movement of the prong forming assembly 12 is opposed by the spring 34 (FIGURE 2), the prong forming assembly will only move rotationally about the pin .24, except in those longitudinal positions of the prong forming assembly where its rotational movement is prevented by a stop block 56 (FIGURES 3 and 4) which extends between the lower portions of the side plates 16 of the main frame 10 and which is adapted to cooperate with pie-shaped cut-outs 57 in the lower edges of the side plates 22 and 23 of the prong forming assembly 12.

FIGURES 1 and 4 illustrate the position of the prong forming assembly when the piston 48 is in its rearmost position. As may be seen particularly in FIGURE 4, in this position of the piston, the prong forming as sembly is cocked upwardly with the lower edges of the side plates 22 and 23 spaced well above the upper surface of the stop block 56. This is the position of the prong forming assembly 12 at the start of a prong forming and driving operation.

When the operator presses the push button 54 (FIG- URE l) to initiate operation of the tool, the piston 48 (FIGURE 1) will be driven forwardly, and this will cause the prong forming assembly 12 first to pivot about the pin 24 to the position shown in FIGURE 5 at which the lower edges of the side plates 22 and 23 come into engagement with the upper surface of the stop block 56. As the piston 48 (FIGURE 1) continues forwardly, the prong forming assembly 12 will move translationally forward to the position shown in FIGURE 6 at which the cut-outs 57 will permit the prong forming assembly 12 to resume its pivotal movement. This second pivotal movement continues to the position shown in FIG- URE 7 at which the lower edges of the side plates 22 and 23 again come into engagement with the upper surface of the stop block 56. As the piston 48 continues its forward movement, the prong forming assembly 12 will again move translationally forward to the position shown in FIGURE 8. The forward end of the prong forming assembly 12 thus moves first downwardly, then forwardly, then downwardly again, and finally forwardly again.

As may be seen particularly in FIGURE 3, secured to the upper portion of the inner face of the side plate 16 which appears at the left in this figure is a fixed cutting knife 58 which, as may be seen in FIGURE 4, is positioned so that its upper surface is just beneath the line of the binding wire W which extends from the box end E through a notch N in the aforementioned cleat C of the box blank. As may be seen in FIGURE 2, the knife 58 is provided with a cutting edge 58a which extends obliquely across the line of the binding wire W. As may be seen in FIGURE 3, secured to the inner face of the side 22 of the prong forming assembly 12 is a movable cutting knife 60, the lower surface of which, as shown in FIGURE 4, is positioned above the line of the binding wire W when the prong forming assembly 12 is in its uppermost position, The movable cutting knife 60 is provided with a cutting edge 60a which also extends ohliquely across the line of the binding wire W and is adapted to come into cutting relation with the cutting edge 58a of the fixed cutting knife 58 during an early portion of the initial pivoting movement of the prong forming assembly 12. This results in cutting off the end of the binding wire W and leaving a relatively sharp point on the resulting cut wire end.

As is best shown in FIGURE 2, mounted near the for ward end of the tool is a retractable wire bending die 62 which is slidably supported in a housing 64 which projects laterally outward from the side plate 16 which ap-- pears at the bottom in FIGURE 2 and at the left in FIGURE 3. The retractable die 62 is urged to its outer most position in which it is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 by means of a coil spring 66 which is compressed be tween the inner end of the die and the end wall of the housing 64. Outward movement of the die 62 under the influence of the spring 66 is limited by an arm 68 (FIG- URE 2) whichprojects through a slot 64a in the housing 64.

The outer end of the arm 68 rotatably supports a roller 70 which cooperates with a cam 72 (see also FIGURES 1 and 3) which extends downwardly along the side of the prong forming assembly 12 and is attached to the top thereof by means of an overarm portion 72a. This overarm portion 72a is shaped to provide sufiicient clearance between the cam 72 and the prong forming assembly d2 to permit the prong forming assembly to move downwardly to its final position as shown in FIGURE 8 without interference from the adjacent side plate 16. As shown in FIGURE 3, the cam 72 is'provided with an inclined surface 72b so that as the cam 72 moves downwardly with the prong forming assembly 12 in the manner previously described, the die 62 will be progressively retracted against the resistance of the spring 66 (FIG- URE 2).

As may be seen in FIGURE 4, the die 62 is so positioned that its upper surface is just beneath the line of the binding wire W. At the commencement of the prong forming and driving operation, when the prong forming assembly is in its uppermost position, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the retractabledie 62 is at its outermost position, with the rear stu'face 62b of the die extend-t ing beneath the binding wire W.

During the first downward movement of the prong forming assembly 12, after the cutting edges 58a and 60a of the cutting knives 58 and 60 have crossed one another to sever the binding wire W, the end portion of the cut wire which projects beyond the rear surface 62b of the die 62 is engaged by the lower forward corner of the cutting knife 60 and as the prong forming assembly 12 continues downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 5, this end portion of the wire is bent around the upper rear corner of the die 62 through an angle of approximately to form a prong P.

The rear surface 62b of the die 62 is undercut so that during the ensuing forward movement of the prong forming assembly 12 to the position shown in FIGURE 6, the

prong P will be bent farther against this undercut surface 62b, resulting in a total bending in excess of 90. As may be seen particularly in FIGURE 3, the front face of the cutting knife 60 is provided with a V vertical notch 60b which receives and guides the prong P to insure proper bending.

During an early portion of the second downward pivotal movement of the prong forming assembly 12 from the position shown in FIGURE 6 toward that shown in FIG- URE 7, the inclined surface 72b of the cam 72 (FIGURE 3), engages the roller 70 and withdraws the retractable die 62 to the position shown in broken lines 62' in FIG- URE 2. This removes the rear surface 62b of the die 62 from the line of the binding wire W and places there in its stead a relatively thin finger 620 which projects from the end of die 62.

During the intermediate portion of this second downward movement of the prong forming assembly 12, the end portion of the binding wire W which projects beyond the finger 62c is engaged by the lower corner of a prong driving block 74 which is secured at the upper edge of the inner face of the side plate 23. As the prong forming assembly 12 continues downwardly the prong driving block 74 bends the binding wire W about the upper rear corner of the finger 620 through an angle of slightly less than 90, directing the prong P toward the cleat C of the box blank with the sharpened end of the prong adjacent the outer face of the cleat. The driving block 74 is provided at its lower rear corner with a notch 74b which receives and guides the binding wire W during this bending movement. During the final portion of this second downward movement of the prong forming assembly 12, the roller 70 rides farther up the inclined surface 72b of the cam 72, further withdrawing the retractable die 62 and removing the finger 620 from beneath the prong P.

During the final forward movement of the prong forming assembly 12 to the position shown in FIGURE 8, the forward surface 740 of the prong driving block 74 engages the prong P and drives it full length into the cleat C.

The sequence of operation of the tool may be briefly Summarized as follows: To begin, the box end B is properly positioned relative to the box blank with the binding wire W at one edge of the box end inserted through the notch N in one of the outside cleats C of the box blank. The operator then brings the tool into position, with the hook portions 16a engaged behind the cleat C and with the binding wire W extending between the open cutting blades 58 and 60, as shown in FIGURE 4. The operator then depresses the control button 54 (FIG- URE 1) and compressed air enters the rearward end of the cylinder 14, driving the piston 48 forwardly against the resistance of the spring 55. Because the spring 34 (FIGURE 2) resists forward movement of the prong forming assembly 12, the forward movement of the piston 48, transmitted through the arms 44, causes the prong forming assembly 12 first to pivot clockwise to the position shown in FIGURE 5. During this pivoting movement, the wire is severed between the cutting edges 58a and 60a of the cutting blades 58 and 60 and the binding wire is engaged by the lower corner of the movable cutting knife 60 and bent downwardly around the upper rear corner of the retractable die 62 through an angle of approximately 90.

When the lower edges of the side frames 22 and 23 of the prong forming assembly 12 engage the upper surface of the stop 56, preventing further pivoting movement of the prong forming assembly, the spring 34 (FIGURE 2) yields to permit the prong forming assembly to move forward to the position shown in FIGURE 6, during which movement the prong P is bent further in the same direction, against undercut surface 62b of the retractable die 62.

When the forward end of the cut-outs 57 in the lower edges of the side plates 22 and "23 clear the upper surface of the stop 56, the prong forming assembly resumes its downward pivotal movement to the position shown in FIGURE 7. During the first portion of this second .pivoting movement the roller 70 rides up the inclined surface 72b of the cam 72 to withdraw the retractable die 62 against the resistance of the spring 66, removing the rear surface 62b from beneath the binding wire W and placing there the finger 62c. The binding wire W is then engaged by the corner 74a of the prong driving block 74 and bent around the finger 62c to place the prong P in position to be driven into the cleat C. During the final portion of this pivotal movement of the prong forming assembly 12, the roller 70 rides farther up the inclined surface 72b of the cam 72, further withdrawing the retractable die 62 (FIGURE 2) and removing the finger 62c from beneath the prong P.

Finally, when the upper surfaces of the cut-outs 57 engage the upper surface of the stop 56, preventing further downward movement of the prong forming assembly, the spring 34 (FIGURE 2) yields again to permit the prong forming assembly to move forward again to the position shown in FIGURE 8, during which movement prong F will be driven fully into the cleat C. Upon completion of this last movement of the prong forming assembly, the operator releases the control button '54 (FIGURE 1), removing the supply of compressed air from the cylinder 14 and permitting the spring 55 to return the piston 48 and the prong forming assembly 12 to their starting positions as shown in FIGURE 1.

While the method has been shown as performed a hand tool, it will readily be seen that the invention is equally applicable to a box assembly machine, for example, a machine of the type wherein the box blanks and box ends or other box parts to be attached thereto are properly positioned relative to each other by mechanical means rather than manually. Moreover, while the particular hand-tool shown and described herein is adapted to form and drive prongs on only a single binding wire, it will readily be understood that the principles of the invention may be readily applied to handtools and box assembly machines adapted to form and drive prongs on a number of binding wires simultaneously.

It therefore should be emphasized that the particular embodiment of the invention which is shown and described herein is intended as merely illustrative rather than as restrictive of the invention.

I claim:

1. The method of attaching to a wirebound box blank provided with reinforcing cleats and openings adjacent thereto a box end having a binding wire secured thereto and extending from an edge thereof, comprising placing said edge of said box end adjacent the inner face of one of said cleats, with said binding wire extending through one of said openings to the outside of said box, cut-ting said binding wire obliquely to form a relatively sharp wire end a predetermined distance beyond the outer face of said cleat, bending said binding wire to form a prong at said wire end, bending said binding wire again in the same direction and in the same plane around the corner of said cleat to direct said prong at the outer face of said cleat, and driving said prong into said cleat.

2. The method of attaching to a wirebound blank of the type having notched reinforcing cleats at its longitudinal edges, a box end of the type having a binding wire stapled thereto and projecting from an edge thereof, said method comprising placing said edge of said box end adjacent the inner face of one of said cleats, with the projecting end of the binding wire on said box end extending through a notch in said cleat to the outside of said box, cutting ofl said binding wire obliquely to form a relatively sharp wire end a predetermined distance beyond the outer face of said cleat, bending said binding wire to form a prong at the end thereof, bending said binding wire again in the same direction and in the same plane around References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Guttman Apr. 18, 1916 & Varela Feb. 7, 1922 Merritt Apr. 11, 1933 Benson Dec. 5, 1933 Henze July 31, 1934 Rosenmund Feb, 27, 1940 Shockey et a1 Aug. 18, 1953 

